North Korea Has Nukes

February 10, 2005 9:13 AM

We've Got 'EmThe North Korean goverment has threatened to "bolster its nuclear weapons arsenal." It is a well known secret that as a charter member of the axis-of-evil, North Korea has an active program to enrich nuclear fuel. And this is not the first time North Korea has made such an annoucement. But why are they are trying to take pressure off Iran?
posted by three blind mice (22 comments total)

The timing of this new announcement couldn't have anything to do with the Chinese government's announcement of a 70 billion deal with Iran or that fact that Iran is crucial to China's future energy needs.
posted by three blind mice at 9:16 AM on February 10, 2005

squeaky wheel - grease.
posted by j.p. Hung at 9:20 AM on February 10, 2005

Great Leader invented the television.
posted by Captaintripps at 9:43 AM on February 10, 2005

At least he didn't invent the Internet. That guy is ours :)
posted by soulhuntre at 9:56 AM on February 10, 2005

Don't they do this every six months or so? Is there something diffrent this time, or what?

Wake me up when they blow up a test nuke.
posted by delmoi at 10:03 AM on February 10, 2005

Prince Charles to Marry Parker Bowles
posted by nequalsone at 10:20 AM on February 10, 2005

Please wake me up before they blow up Los Angeles. Not that I'm particularly attached to the city, I just wouldn't want to sleep through it.
posted by loquacious at 10:23 AM on February 10, 2005

Which one in the photo is Prince Charles? The one in the skirt?
posted by disgruntled at 10:29 AM on February 10, 2005

Fuck it. I'm building my own nuke. It's the only way to get any respect!
posted by black8 at 10:29 AM on February 10, 2005

But why are they are trying to take pressure off Iran?

I'd say it's exactly the opposite. The Dear Leader's news pigeons have brought word that Iran is 'not on the US agenda', courtesy of Condi Rice. And we all know what that means.
posted by riviera at 10:29 AM on February 10, 2005

Aren't we supposed to invade countries that we suspect of having WMD's?
posted by Jart at 10:43 AM on February 10, 2005

No...only countries we can beat!
posted by black8 at 10:45 AM on February 10, 2005

riviera, that the invasion's already underway?
posted by fenriq at 10:52 AM on February 10, 2005

nequalsone: WTF? Seriously.
posted by uni verse at 11:03 AM on February 10, 2005

What is to be gained by this announcement? It makes me wonder if N. Korea has some serious backing... China: "Kim, we got your back."
posted by uni verse at 11:07 AM on February 10, 2005

Seriously, they do this every six months or so. It's for attention and so they can get more trade concessions. The best thing we could do about North Korea is ignore them and wait for the peasants to rise up against their batshit-crazy leader.

Because, for the record, China can and will keep North Korea on a tighter leash than we'd ever be able to manage. NK depends almost solely on China for economic support. (and little things like, oh, electricity) Because they're both "communist", China has to play nice with NK - but it's pretty clear if you follow responses that China's as sick of Jong-Il's antics as we are.

And, here's the big one - if NK got into a fight, China would have to back them up. If NK ever provoked the US into a war, China would have to wade into it. And they most emphatically would NOT want to do that.

So, just like a guy holding back his drunken buddy from a bar brawl, it's in China's best interest to keep NK out of trouble, because that trouble would immediately fall upon their own heads too.

Jong-Il can rant and rave and cry for attention all he wants, but ultimately, he is lord of what is quite possibly the most irrelevant country on Earth.
posted by InnocentBystander at 11:12 AM on February 10, 2005

I would hardly call a nation with nukes irrelevant. It may be their only relevancy, hence why they want them.
posted by caddis at 11:39 AM on February 10, 2005

nequalsone: WTF? Seriously.

i guess what i'm getting at is that 3 of today's FPPs are also FPPs on Yahoo News, yet while Yahoo listed Korea first and the FAA report third, we had missed out on the second most important story of February 10, 2005, the imminent (eminent? impending?) marriage of Prince Charles to Parker Bowles. This is also currently the 8th most important story, while Bush stumping for social security reform is 11th. although, as i think about it, that comment is probably unwelcome here and if i explained it as well to myself as i am to you, i would probably have reconsidered posting at all.
posted by nequalsone at 11:53 AM on February 10, 2005

Sarcasm sensors are back online, sir. Huge Story.
posted by uni verse at 1:02 PM on February 10, 2005

nequalstone: why didn't you just post it to the front page? Not that I would want to see it there, but still.
posted by delmoi at 2:33 PM on February 10, 2005

Doesn't it make sense that the so-called "axis of evil" countries are going to start blowing hot air? They've already been targeted. Now they (Iran, North Korea) are pissed. I wouldn't expect anything less at this point. I'm curious though as to how the U.S. will handle this little international shit-storm that they deliberately started. BTW it's probably safe to think that any collaboration these "axis of evil" countries have with either China or Russia is nonsense.
posted by snsranch at 4:03 PM on February 10, 2005

Sounds like someone is a bit of a sore loser, considering that now, but a day later, they are telling the world they have nukes.

Trying to compensate for something, guys?
posted by dead_ at 8:26 PM on February 10, 2005